四种土壤
路加福音八章9至15节
9门徒问耶稣说：“这比喻是甚么意思呢？”
10他说：“ 神国的奥秘只叫你们知道；至于别人，就用比喻，叫他们看也看不见，听也听不明。
11这比喻乃是这样：种子就是 神的道。
12那些在路旁的，就是人听了道，随后魔鬼来，从他们心里把道夺去，恐怕他们信了得救；
13那些在磐石上的，就是人听道，欢喜领受，但心中没有根，不过暂时相信，及至遇见试炼就退后了；
14那落在荆棘里的，就是人听了道，走开以后，被今生的思虑、钱财、宴乐挤住了，便结不出成熟的子粒来；
15那落在好土里的，就是人听了道，持守在诚实善良的心里，并且忍耐着结实。
信息分享
当撒种人在泥土上撒种，种子或许会撒到路上或是田边，那些地方却是硬土，种子不能生长。有些人的心灵就像这些硬土；罪使他们心硬，真理无法进到他们心内。
撒但更会设法阻止神的道进入人的心中。仿如飞鸟看见种子掉到地上，便立即飞下啄食一样，撒但也会马上把神的道夺走，不让它有任何生长的机会。
此外，种子也会落在石旁的浅土里，最初还会萌芽和生长。可是，一阵热风吹过，便马上枯萎。
主耶稣说，这代表一些领受了种子的人，最初长得不错，可是，当试验临到，他们便抵挡不住而放弃信仰。在现实中，我们经常看到这种情况。最初的成长令人振奋，但一遇考验便立即跌倒。
另有些人是最初成长得不错，直至「被今生的思虑、钱财、宴乐挤住了」，以致属灵生命停滞不前，逐渐枯萎。这又是另一种悲剧。
我们不应让任何阻碍神的道的东西填满心灵，应该把这些东西拿走。
落在好土里的，就是欢喜领受神的道的人，他们预备好自己的心灵，让神的道可以茁壮茂盛地成长。种子结实之后，便可产出更多种子，息息不断地生长。好土壤是每个农夫想要的，这样的心也是我们的主所寻找的。
你的心是哪种土壤呢？是硬土？是浅土？是被许多东西填满的泥土？或是好土呢？
但愿我们今天就说：
「主啊，我愿意一直敞开自己的心，接受你的道。」这是我们的主所喜悦的。
THOSE FOUR SOILS
Luke 8:9-15
9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. The Parable of the Sower Explained.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.
Message
A pathway led through the field or perhaps went along the edge. That soil, hard and unbroken, never really received the seed. Some hearts are like that. They have become hardened by sin and the truth has no chance of entering.
Then Satan makes sure about it. Like the birds who quickly spotted the seed on the path and flew down to snatch it away, Satan does exactly the same. He won't allow the Word to remain long enough to germinate and grow.
In another place there was a shallow band of soil over rock. Seed fell there too and it looked like it would grow well. Then came a dry spell and a hot wind. The little plants which looked so promising shrivelled and died.
Our Lord said this represented those who begin well but wither away at the first sign of testing. You have seen that happen haven't you? The promise is thrilling but the first test means failure spiritually.
Then there are those whose spiritual life grows well until as Christ said: 'Life's worries, riches and pleasures' grow too and the good plants are choked completely. A tragedy.
Anything that fills the heart to the exclusion of the Word of God is wrong and should be put away.
The good soil is the joy of everyone's heart. It is soil which gave full liberty to the growth of the Word. The seed here eventually reproduces itself so the process goes on. This is what the farmer wanted. This is what our Lord is looking for. By the way, how is the soil of your heart? Where does it fit into the pattern our Lord gave? Is it a pathway? Rocky soil? Pre-occupied soil? Or fruitful soil?
Why not say today 'Lord I want my heart to be constantly open to your Word'? That is what the Lord wants most of all.